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Indian American hoteliers receive Stephen W. Brener Silver Plate Award
The award recognizes the Shah Family's pioneering contributions and leadership in the hospitality industry.
The Shah family from left: Hasu, Hersha, Jay and Neil on stage at 2024 NYU IHIIC. / Questex/Matt Rickman
The Shah Family, founders of Hersha Hotels and Resorts and HHM Hotels, was awarded the Hotel News Now Stephen W. Brener Silver Plate Award at the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference (NYU IHIIC).
The award, given to a family for the first time, recognizes the work of Indian immigrants Hasu and Hersha Shah in developing the early architecture of the Hersha Group, which owns and manages 25 luxury and lifestyle hotels in the coastal gateway and resort markets.
It also recognizes the work of Jay and Neil, their sons, in keeping the company on the cutting edge of the industry and elevating it to the next level, including last year's successful takeover with KSL Capital Partners.
The event was organized by Questex in collaboration with the NYU school of professional studies (NYU SPS) and its Jonathan M. Tisch center of hospitality. Amanda Hite, president of STR, and Stephanie Ricca, editorial director of Hotel News Now, presented the award to the Shah family.
“The Shah Family built their hospitality companies from the ground up, and they continue to evolve the business in ways that benefit the industry and their stakeholders. We are happy to present this year’s Stephen W. Brener Silver Plate Award to this legendary family,” said Stephanie Ricca, editorial director of Hotel News Now.
Hasu Shah's journey began in 1964 when he arrived in the USA from India to pursue a chemical engineering degree, and graduated from Tennessee Technical University. After working as an environmental engineer, Hasu and his wife, Hersha, invested in a hotel in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which led to the founding of the hospitality firm, Hersha.
Hasu took Hersha Hospitality Trust, a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), public in 1999. Today, Hersha Hospitality Trust is a nationally recognized leader in the hospitality industry whose shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as HT.
His entrepreneurial achievements have been recognized many times-including in numerous articles in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Hasu was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. Magazine and CEO of the Year in 2004 by HVS Global Hospitality Services.
Hasu is recognized for his passion for philanthropy. The couple , were one of the first to join United Way of the Capital Region's Million Dollar Roundtable Club (a commitment to contribute $1,000,000 over a 4-year period). Additionally, he has served as the president of the India Heritage Research Foundation (IHRF), and was an integral part of the success of and completion of the very first Encyclopedia of Hinduism, composed of 11 volumes, in 2010.
This lifetime achievement award has been given since 1959 to an individual or firm that demonstrates exceptional commitment to and support for the hotel and tourism sectors. In 1994, the prize was renamed the Stephen W. Brener Silver Plate prize in honor of Brener, a well-known New York-based hotel consultant and broker and World War II veteran who died that year.
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